CREAMER

This is a creamer produced by ARABIA's art department.
It is estimated to be from around 1957 to 1961.
*In good condition with no noticeable damage.

KYLLIKKI SALMENHAARA｜Kyllikki Salmenhaara｜1915–1981｜FINLAND

Kyllikki Salmenhaara is one of the most distinguished potters representing 20th-century Finnish ceramics, who elevated exceptional wheel-throwing techniques to an art form. She dedicated her life to the research and education of ceramics.

From 1938, she majored in ceramics under Elsa Elenius at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. She showed her talent early on, winning top prizes in internal school competitions while still a student.

After graduation, she worked as a glass designer at Kauklahti Glassworks for three years. In 1946, she studied glaze research at Saxbo in Denmark, where she was mentored by Nathalie Krebs, a renowned glaze chemist. The experience she gained in glaze research there became the foundation for the unique glaze expressions seen in her later works.

After working at Sakari Vapaavuori's studio, she joined Arabia in 1947. Initially, she worked as an assistant to Olga Osol, who was in charge of the applied arts department, but in 1950, she moved to the art department and remained there until 1961. While researching the composition of ceramic clay and glazes, and firing techniques, she created works characterized by glaze expressions that utilized the texture of materials and powerful forms created by the potter's wheel.

In 1956, she stayed in the United States and was exposed to the trends in the developing studio ceramics movement, which is believed to have led to her subsequent free and powerful sculptural expressions.

Her works received high international acclaim, and at the Milan Triennale, she was awarded a silver medal in 1951, an honorary award in 1954, a Grand Prix in 1957, and a gold medal in 1960, winning awards in every exhibition she participated in.

She left Arabia after an accident during production where she injured her finger with a blade mixed in with the clay, and from 1961, she was involved in ceramics education at a university in Taiwan. From 1963 until her death in 1981, she worked as an educator and researcher at the School of Art and Design and the University of Art and Design Helsinki.

In 1974, she published her book "Keramiikka," which summarized her years of research and experience. This book, which systematically organized ceramic materials, wheel-throwing techniques, clay and glaze compounding, and firing, had a significant impact on ceramics education and research in Finland.

Through her works, research, and educational activities, Salmenhaara left a significant mark on 20th-century Finnish ceramics.

ARABIA｜Arabia｜1873 –｜FINLAND

Arabia was established in 1873 as a subsidiary of the Swedish ceramics manufacturer Rörstrand in the Arabia district on the outskirts of Helsinki, and began operations the following year in 1874. In 1916, it became independent from Rörstrand's capital, becoming a Finnish company.

In 1929, one of the world's largest tunnel kilns, measuring 112 meters in length, was introduced, improving production efficiency and establishing a mass production system. This led to Arabia's development into one of Europe's leading ceramics factories.

In 1932, Kurt Ekholm was appointed as art director, organizing Arabia's artistic activities into an art department. He created an environment for artists to work, establishing a system for developing both products and art pieces in parallel.

A major characteristic of Arabia is that its product development has involved the interplay of three sectors: the art department, the applied arts department, and the product design department.

The art department included artists such as Toini Muona, Friedl Kjellberg, Michael Schilkin, Birger Kaipiainen, Rut Bryk, and Kyllikki Salmenhaara. Their works gained international recognition from the 1930s, playing a crucial role in Arabia's cultural aspect and the development of Finnish ceramics.

In the 1940s, Friedl Kjellberg developed Rice Porcelain using the firefly technique. Mass production began in 1950, becoming a long-selling product that continued until 1974, and gaining high international acclaim as a representative artistic porcelain of Arabia.

Against the backdrop of functionalism spreading in the Nordic countries in the 1930s, Ekholm launched the AR series (SINIVALKO) tableware in 1935, setting the direction for future Nordic modern design.

In 1945, Kaj Franck joined the company as a designer, and together with Kaarina Aho and Ulla Procopé, he led the renewal of product design. The Kilta series, released in 1953, achieved great success as innovative modern design tableware characterized by simple geometric forms and versatility.

Arabia boasts numerous awards since the 1930s, but particularly in the 1950s at the Milan Triennale (1951, 1954, 1957), many products by designers, in addition to works by artists from the art department, received awards, establishing its global reputation.

This is a mug created by ARABIA's art department.
It is estimated to be from around 1957 to 1961.
The signature is 'ARABIA KS'.
*In good condition with no noticeable damage.

KYLLIKKI SALMENHAARA｜Kyllikki Salmenhaara｜1915–1981｜FINLAND

Kyllikki Salmenhaara is one of the most distinguished potters representing 20th-century Finnish ceramics, who elevated exceptional wheel-throwing techniques to an art form. She dedicated her life to the research and education of ceramics.

From 1938, she majored in ceramics under Elsa Elenius at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. She showed her talent early on, winning top prizes in internal school competitions while still a student.

After graduation, she worked as a glass designer at Kauklahti Glassworks for three years. In 1946, she studied glaze research at Saxbo in Denmark, where she was mentored by Nathalie Krebs, a renowned glaze chemist. The experience she gained in glaze research there became the foundation for the unique glaze expressions seen in her later works.

After working at Sakari Vapaavuori's studio, she joined Arabia in 1947. Initially, she worked as an assistant to Olga Osol, who was in charge of the applied arts department, but in 1950, she moved to the art department and remained there until 1961. While researching the composition of ceramic clay and glazes, and firing techniques, she created works characterized by glaze expressions that utilized the texture of materials and powerful forms created by the potter's wheel.

In 1956, she stayed in the United States and was exposed to the trends in the developing studio ceramics movement, which is believed to have led to her subsequent free and powerful sculptural expressions.

Her works received high international acclaim, and at the Milan Triennale, she was awarded a silver medal in 1951, an honorary award in 1954, a Grand Prix in 1957, and a gold medal in 1960, winning awards in every exhibition she participated in.

She left Arabia after an accident during production where she injured her finger with a blade mixed in with the clay, and from 1961, she was involved in ceramics education at a university in Taiwan. From 1963 until her death in 1981, she worked as an educator and researcher at the School of Art and Design and the University of Art and Design Helsinki.

In 1974, she published her book "Keramiikka," which summarized her years of research and experience. This book, which systematically organized ceramic materials, wheel-throwing techniques, clay and glaze compounding, and firing, had a significant impact on ceramics education and research in Finland.

Through her works, research, and educational activities, Salmenhaara left a significant mark on 20th-century Finnish ceramics.

ARABIA｜Arabia｜1873 –｜FINLAND

Arabia was established in 1873 as a subsidiary of the Swedish ceramics manufacturer Rörstrand in the Arabia district on the outskirts of Helsinki, and began operations the following year in 1874. In 1916, it became independent from Rörstrand's capital, becoming a Finnish company.

In 1929, one of the world's largest tunnel kilns, measuring 112 meters in length, was introduced, improving production efficiency and establishing a mass production system. This led to Arabia's development into one of Europe's leading ceramics factories.

In 1932, Kurt Ekholm was appointed as art director, organizing Arabia's artistic activities into an art department. He created an environment for artists to work, establishing a system for developing both products and art pieces in parallel.

A major characteristic of Arabia is that its product development has involved the interplay of three sectors: the art department, the applied arts department, and the product design department.

The art department included artists such as Toini Muona, Friedl Kjellberg, Michael Schilkin, Birger Kaipiainen, Rut Bryk, and Kyllikki Salmenhaara. Their works gained international recognition from the 1930s, playing a crucial role in Arabia's cultural aspect and the development of Finnish ceramics.

In the 1940s, Friedl Kjellberg developed Rice Porcelain using the firefly technique. Mass production began in 1950, becoming a long-selling product that continued until 1974, and gaining high international acclaim as a representative artistic porcelain of Arabia.

Against the backdrop of functionalism spreading in the Nordic countries in the 1930s, Ekholm launched the AR series (SINIVALKO) tableware in 1935, setting the direction for future Nordic modern design.

In 1945, Kaj Franck joined the company as a designer, and together with Kaarina Aho and Ulla Procopé, he led the renewal of product design. The Kilta series, released in 1953, achieved great success as innovative modern design tableware characterized by simple geometric forms and versatility.

Arabia boasts numerous awards since the 1930s, but particularly in the 1950s at the Milan Triennale (1951, 1954, 1957), many products by designers, in addition to works by artists from the art department, received awards, establishing its global reputation.